Cost of Marin Civic Center campus project soars to $5 million

The cost of sprucing up the northern entrance of the Civic Center campus while providing traffic, pedestrian, bike and related improvements is soaring, with a new estimate indicating the tab has nearly doubled to about $5 million.

Pat Echols, a senior county engineer, warned that expenses could grow as design details and more accurate engineering estimates are developed.

"The scope of the project is more complex than what was contemplated when conceptual project costs were estimated in 2012," he disclosed in a memo to county supervisors.

Harris and Associates of Concord, initially hired for $451,000 for preliminary design work on the ambitious makeover, was given another $25,000 earlier this year, and got $590,000 more from county supervisors Tuesday for additional design work, environmental review and preparation of bid documents.

The county board approved the latest consultant fee as outlined in Echols' memo without comment as it routinely approved a consent calendar of business.

Supervisor Susan Adams plucked several other items from the calendar for discussion, but no one mentioned the campus tab. She later noted no one will know for sure what the improvement project will cost until bids come in.

Staff's best estimate as outlined in Echols' memo is that the cost of the facelift has climbed to $4.7 million, almost twice earlier assertions.

Supervisors Kate Sears and Steve Kinsey later said costs ballooned because bike path, road and related improvements became more elaborate than initially envisioned.

Several hours later, as supervisors discussed public works spending, Kinsey noted the board will have to set aside more money for the project when the county budget is adopted next June. The money would augment $2 million already set aside for the project, as well as a $650,000 federal grant.

"The cost of the project has gone up significantly," Kinsey told public works officials. In light of a variety of amenities added to the project, "this program has grown," he noted.

The campus facelift envisioned by the county includes a "roundabout" traffic circle in front of Marin Center at Memorial, Civic Center and Peter Behr drives, a program officials hope will improve safety and prevent incidents such as a collision that killed 79-year-old Jurgen Trauban last year. He was hit by a van while crossing the street to get to the farmers market.

The project calls for separate bicycle and pedestrian paths along the west side of Civic Center Drive, pedestrian safety improvements and improved bus transit stops. Pedestrian and bicycle paths will link a new SMART train station to a paved farmers market site on the "Christmas tree" parking lot, along with landscaping, signs and lighting. The county has agreed to provide $1 million to pave the lot.

Primary goals of the program as outlined by the county "are to integrate bicycle and pedestrian connections, improve Civic Center Drive circulation and traffic safety and create a sense of scale and welcoming to the Civic Center campus."